from Jerry Kaye, Director

As the sun is setting over Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, we are all shocked by the tragic accident at Camp Greenwoods, where a teenage camper drowned last night. There is much that has already been written on Facebook and in the area press about this incident, along with a letter to the parents of their campers.

OSRUI, under the professional guidance of our Aquatics Director Elayne Peters, has always maintained an attitude of safety first, with fun and advancement following. We have a high lifeguard ratio, well beyond that recommended by the American Camp Association, and we do not have any evening lake swims as a basic practice of our camp. Our staff are well trained and certified, with a careful eye out both in our pool and on the lake. Boating activities also maintain the same carefully trained lifeguards. We seek to take every precaution for the safety of your children, our campers.

Some of our OSRUI campers knew the boy as a classmate and from their synagogue. Rabbi Michael Weinberg and Rabbi Alli Abrams joined with Associate Director Susan Alexander in sharing the news with those youngsters. Our entire faculty and unit heads met with me to focus a direction that will be informative without engaging the rumor mill any further. All of us here are available to support those in our community who are grieving.

The death of this young man, who grew up in one of our congregations, is a tragedy and we all offer consolation and comfort to the family as well as to the entire Camp Greenwoods community. Our tradition teaches that comforting family and community for those who have passed is a high mitzvah and one that we pray would never be required for the family of any child anywhere. HaMakom Y’nachem … May God bring comfort to all who are bereaved.